Albert Sambi Lokonga has admitted he’s been unhappy with his Belgium national team involvement, particularly the March international break this year.
Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is a full Belgium international, having made his debut for the country in a World Cup qualifier in 2021.
Yet that remains his only appearance for the country to this day, despite other call-ups.
Lokonga was particularly unhappy in March, when Belgium boss Roberto Martinez called him up for a couple of friendlies against Ireland and Burkina Faso.
The manager was using that particular break to give chances to the lesser-capped members of his squad. The likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Kevin De Bruyne weren’t involved. But Lokonga didn’t get a single minute on the pitch.
“I was really pissed off then,” Lokonga said in La Dernière Heure (via Nieuwsblad.be). “I was disgusted, I didn’t even know if I wanted to return to the Red Devils.
“Martinez has a preference for players who are a fixed value at their club and he was not too happy with my training. I don’t think he can see me as a bad boy, someone who doesn’t work for it.
“Afterwards, I said that if I can’t even play 15 or 20 minutes when Hazard, De Bruyne, and the other stars are not there, I wouldn’t have a chance with them there.
“Maybe Martinez doesn’t believe in my qualities or he doesn’t like my style. It would have been better if he’d been clear and said he’d rather take someone else. At least then there would have been no discussion.”
Lokonga doesn’t seem to be blaming Arsenal for his situation with the national team, despite the implication from Martinez that he prefers players starting regularly for their clubs.
In fact, Lokonga appears to believe the experience he gets as a rotation player with the Gunners is better than if he was starting every weekend for a smaller side.
“It’s difficult because I play for one of the best clubs in England,” Lokonga explained. “I could have played somewhere else every weekend.
“But I develop better playing 20 minutes at Arsenal than starting elsewhere and losing 3-0 or 4-0 every week.”
Arsenal are glad to have the Belgian around, particularly while they’re so short in midfield. But these latest comments suggest the chances of a trip to the World Cup this winter are remote for Lokonga.